Off to Foxton.

We spent a wonderful few days moored in the basin at Market Harborough and we got to catch up with a lot of friends. Yesterday Andy and Hilary off of NB Maisibert came and had coffee with us and we managed to sit out and enjoy the sunshine. last night we joined the local radio station Hfm at their Soul Night at the Conservative Club, wow it really did rock, my ears were still ringing when we got back to the boat. It was a wonderful evening though and a great crowd turned up. I won a bottle of Vodka as well which was a bonus, not that I have ever drunk Vodka, but there is always a first for everything.

 

No need to hurry up this morning, so we enjoyed a cup of tea in bed and a breakfast cooked by Keith. We then moved off our pontoon mooring and on to the sanitary station to fill up with water and get rid of yet more rubbish. The sun was shining and so I donned my shorts (that will scare the sun away) and t-shirt, after all we need to enjoy the sun whilst we have it, and of course I will do it responsibly.

Water tank full, we left Market Harborough at 10.35. Along the way we met a few of the hire boats heading back to Market Harborough for turn around tomorrow.

Oil seed rape is very prevalent in the fields at present, giving us fields of gold.

At the Foxton Village swing bridge a hire boat was already coming through, so the ladies operating the bridge allowed us to come through and closed the bridge behind us, which was very kind of them and it saved me the job.

The field alongside our mooring is very purple, and apparently it is Red Campion(Silene dioica) according to the book, a wild flower, but in great abundance in this field. Besides the aesthetic value of its flowers, the crushed seeds of Red Campion have also been used to cure snakebites. The nectar of the flowers is utilised by bumblebees and butterflies, and several species of moth feed on the foliage. I really makes a splendid sight.

We moored alongside the field of Campion on the 48 hour moorings.

HADAR 2011

Spotted again, but this time by Andy who we know.

Grand Union Canal working boat Hadar

Someone saw us on the Aylesbury Arm...

Back in Market Harborough.

Travelled 8.4 miles, worked 10 locks in a time of 3 hours 45 minutes.

Yesterday as we were sitting on the towpath making the most of the sunshine, we heard the unmistakable sound of a merlin engine and then we saw a Spitfire circle over us, unfortunately it was too far away for a photo, but wonderful to hear that Merlin engine whining away in the blue skies. We did see it dive down behind some low hills to the west of us. From the same direction we also heard what sounded like  jet engines in action every now and again, so Keith checked on the internet and found out it was all coming from Bruntingthorpe aerodrome, they were having one of their two annual open days of cold war jet aircraft, where any aircraft that are serviceable will carry out full power taxi runs along their main runway, now I bet that is something to behold. So that may have explained the visit and presumably a flying display by the Spitfire. It was a treat for us and made our day. The rest of the day was very quiet as we enjoyed the weekends sunshine.

This morning we woke to get more sunshine as forecast and as forecast this was not set to last, the weather was to close in and rain would be coming for Tuesday, so we decided to move.

We left the mooring at 8.30am and headed towards Foxton Locks.

Laughton Hills in the sunshine.

We arrived at the top of Foxton Locks and was surprised to see no other boats waiting to go down. Having booked in with the Lock Keepers on duty, we were told we could go on down.

Tony one of the volunteer lock keepers helped us down the flight. I had a lovely chat with him and it was clear he really enjoyed helping boaters up and down the locks as do all the other volunteers on duty. Whilst Tony saw Keith down through the last lock, I went and opened the swing bridge.

There were a couple of boats waiting to go up the flight.

We came through the village swing bridge, which does not get any easier to work. Notice the sign on the right of the photo. I wonder if they know something we do not?

We had a pleasant cruise into Market Harborough.

The swans have produced four cygnets this year and they are so cute.

We have taken a mooring in the basin for a few days, as we have a few things we want to do and the moorings on the towpath are only 48 hours. With us being in the basin, we are on the electric, so I will get some washing done. No sooner we moored up friends at the hire company came and said “Hello” and we also got to catch up with Maureen and Terry on NB On Golden Pond, who are moored in the basin. I am sure we will do plenty of chatting whilst we are back and I will take lots more photographs.

Moored below the Laughton Hills.

We Travelled 5.9 miles, worked 1 lock in a time of 2 hours.

After what was a rock and roll day yesterday weather wise, this morning bought about an amazing transformation, with no wind and no rain. The sun was out, the birds were singing and the Ewes and their lambs were bleating opposite us, what a perfect way to begin the day.

Before leaving the mooring, Keith went off to empty the toilet cassette up at the wharf, whilst I got on with preparing the boat for the off. On Keith’s return, we winded the boat and headed back to the lock, which I got ready.

It was onward to Husbands Bosworth Tunnel, where we got behind a Canal Time hire boat. I think we may have put the fear of god into them coming up behind them as we did, so they very kindly pulled over and let us pass before entering the tunnel. We were long gone as their tunnel light glowed in the distance. We had three tunnel lights coming towards us and the first was another Canal Time hire boat, who was going so slow he had a queue of boats right up his stern. We were glad we were not stuck behind them.

Out the other end into the sunshine again as we approached Honey Pot Bridge.

After no time at all we found a suitable, deep mooring below the Laughton Hills and moored up, this will be home for the rest of the Bank Holiday Weekend.

After lunch it was time to get a few jobs done, as they say “Make hay, whilst the sun shines”. In our case it was mop out under the back cabin floor and cable tie up the battery cables properly.

Marmite decided whilst we worked she would watch over the lino from the back cabin.

Paddy just wanted to lounge and roll in the grass.

Marmite pinched my chair.

Then she decided it was better as a shelter from the sun.

Mopping out done and battery cables sorted, it was time for us to sit and enjoy the sunshine whilst drinking coffee. It is so quiet where we are moored we have only had a couple of people walk past, so it is absolute heaven.

Dinner tonight is the last of the Lamb from yesterday with veggies and I may just have to open a bottle of wine, after all it is a Bank Holiday.

Moored at Welford.

Travelled 8.8 miles, worked 1 locks in a time of 3 hours.

Brrrrrr what a cold start to the end of May. Before leaving the boat with Paddy for his walk, I relit the back cabin stove, because it was a tad parky.

We left the mooring at 8.45am with only a short jaunt to Welford. The breeze was getting up along the way and the rain began spit spotting as well, which was all forecast, so we were not surprised. As the rain fell steadily, I made us a warming coffee to help keep the chilly wind out. It was hardly surprising that we saw few boats on the move.

We arrived at the junction at 11.10am and turned right in to the Welford Arm. By the time we reached Welford Lock, it was throwing it down with rain and blowing a gale, so it was just as well we were mooring up above the lock.

Moored up and the boat closed up against the weather, I made us some lunch and put a joint of stuffed Lamb in the back cabin stove to cook slowly. Due to the wind the stove fire is working over time, so I have gone back to house coal, which does not burn so hot. I cannot see us doing much for the rest of the day, I am quite happy sitting out this dreadful weather. They say that Saturday and Sunday are supposed to be better, so we will see.

Back on the Leicester Line.

Travelled 16.3 miles, worked 13 locks in 8 hours.

Yet again I only have a GPRS signal, so no photographs, so you will have to use your imagination.

We left our over night mooring at 8.25am and the sun was shining and it was chilly.

We got to the Braunston Turn at 9.00 and turned right to head up the locks. When we got there there were two boats waiting to go up, they were heading for the Crick Show which is this weekend. We joined the queue and followed them up the locks, with boats coming down the flight it made all our lives a little easier. The one thing that did not was the lack of water in the pounds.

Keith got stuck on the cill at one lock and so he had to wait for some water come down. Half way up the locks Ben a C&RT worker and friend had come to see the Volunteer lock keeper, only to be told by me that there was no lock keeper on duty thus the lack of water, this did not exactly please Ben, so he was going to phone it in and try to get someone out to man the locks, because of all the traffic going to the Crick Show. We got to the top lock at 10.50am. We went into Braunston Tunnel having enjoyed some sunshine, but when we came out the other end it was raining and that turned to hail.

11.45am we made it finally to Norton Junction and were back on the Leicester Line.

When we reached Watford Locks we were in a queue with six boats in front of us. Keith dropped me off and I went and found the volunteer locks keeper who was John who we know and he booked us in. Whilst we waited to go up the locks, I made us a quick lunch and had a chat with the boaters in front. After waiting it was finally our turn to start up the locks with the help of John and the other lockie on duty Ian. They were both brilliant helping us up the flight. Whilst working up through the locks, we had sunshine, rain, sleet, snow and hail, it is hard to believe we are heading towards June, but hey ho this is Britain.

Onward in to Crick Tunnel and out the other end where boats were moored for the Crick Show.

We did see boats and people we know. NB Briar Rose and NB Sanity Again all crews were looking a little damp, but then what do you expect it is the Crick Show, which we will not go to because of the costs involved. For us to moor up on the towpath it is £1.86 a foot and at 70ft it would cost us £13o and that does not include getting on to the site for the weekend, so for us it is to expensive. But we hope they all have a great show. With rain still falling we were on the lookout for a mooring. With Crick full from the tunnel to bridge 14 we headed on through Yelvertoft, which was also full and have moored up at Haddon’s Bridge.

With us moored up it was time to get out of our wet clothes and to organise some dinner. Tomorrow we will head for Welford.

On to Nethercote.

Moored at Nethercote.

Travelled 6.9 miles, worked 13 locks in a time of 4 hours 5 minutes.

Last night there was a knocking on the engine room door and standing outside was Barbara off of NB Cloud Nine. It was lovely to see her and to hear all her news. We stood on the towpath having a good old chin wag for about an hour before we said “Cheerio”. After dinner it was feet up time before bedtime which came for me at 9.30pm, I was completely shattered and did not hear or see Keith come to bed.

Awake at 6.30am, I got up and made us our first cuppa of the day, which was enjoyed whilst watching the news. Of course the news has been mostly about the Tornado in Moore Oklahoma, which was so devastating. My thoughts and prayers have been for everyone out there coping with such hardship and loss. In this country we do not realise just how lucky we are.

Before leaving Long Itchington we walked into the village to find a post box, so I could post a couple of letters. We left the mooring at 9.50 with the Stockton flight of locks to do. On arriving in the first lock at 10am, we got something around the propeller, so with no one coming either way Keith went down into the weed hatch.

Having been down there for a few minutes, a pile of old rope, plastic bags and some electric flex was thrown out on to the back counter. I then saw a boat approaching and so opened the other gate for them to enter, but was told they were going to share with the boat behind them, so I closed the lock gate and left them to it.

Up past Warwick Fly Boats.

Passed The Blue Lias. One day we will go and have a pint there.

We were very fortunate that a steady stream of boats was coming down the flight, making my job so much easier. We said “Hello” to Simon as he swapped locks with us breasted up. We cleared the top of the Stockton locks at 11.30am. From what promised to be a warm day suddenly felt rather chilly, so I relit the back cabin stove. Its the end of May almost and still cold, come on Summer where are you?

It was then onward to the Calcutt Locks. Having worked the first of the three, there was a boat in the middle lock and the lady very kindly turned it for us after they had left it, so I gave her a friendly wave. What was really nice though was they waited for us to share the top lock the last lock of the day for us. So thank you to NB Ruby and her crew. It seems that people are in to much of a hurry to wait for a boat they see coming and could share the work and the lock with. We always share wherever possible. Locks all done, I made us some lunch and a coffee, it was well earned in my case I felt, after all I work the locks LOL.

Very strange looking boat.

Approaching Napton Junction at 12.55, with a hire boat crossing our path, we were to over take them a short time later as they very kindly pulled over to let us by.

We moored up at 1.55 at Nethercote. We are in the middle of nowhere and that is my favourite place to be, where it is just us and the birdsong.

Both Marmite and Paddy are up in the back cabin where it is warm. Coal has been bought in for the day and now I have to think what to cook for dinner.